The Serbian State Secretary for Aviation, Miodrag Miljković, has said that a tender to find a strategic partner for Serbia’s new national carrier should commence by the end of summer. “We expect to begin tender procedures by the end of summer and begin transferring Jat’s assets into the new company”, Miljković said. Part of Jat Airways’ assets will be transferred into the new company, another will be sold, while a part could stay with the old Jat, which could continue to operate as a charter airline. He added that the government will make a final decision with what is left of Jat at the beginning of next year.

The coalition government does not see eye to eye over Jat’s future. While the largest party within the government wants the Jat brand to live on, another coalition partner (United Regions of Serbia) is itching to create a new airline as soon as possible. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in Serbia by May 2012. If a new airline is created successfully it could prove as a pre-election boost for the ruling parties. On the other hand, if the creation of the new carrier leads to mass layoffs it could spell disaster for the same parties.

Miljković has told the “Tanjug” news agency that Turkish Airlines is interested in cooperating with carriers from the former Yugoslavia so they could become feeder airlines for Turkish’s long haul routes. He announced that representatives from Turkish Airlines will visit Serbia in May.